This is a technique which allows the reproductive capacity of a woman to be preserved when reaching a more mature age or when having to undergo treatments which could diminish her fertility.
All women who cannot have a family at present and whose fertility may be diminished in the immediate future, either due to age or illness and its treatments.
Some tumours (for example, breast cancer) and some autoimmune diseases can be cured by chemotherapy, but these medications often damage ovules (oocytes) causing a significant reduction of the woman’s fertility, sometimes causing total sterility.
We therefore insist on the importance of vitrifying (freezing) the ovules before beginning the treatment, so that the woman can achieve pregnancy with her own ovules once cured of the illness.
Nowadays, social, economic and work reasons increasingly lead us to delay the age of first pregnancy. We are well aware that from 35 years of age the fertility of a women rapidly diminishes, and it is therefore recommended to vitrify the ovules before 35-38 years of age. In this way, the woman will have her own ovules in the following years, and thereby practically maintain fertility.
There are different techniques, depending on the characteristics of each woman and the reason for preservation. The most commonly used, and the one which has given us the best results, is vitrification of oocytes.
Through a brief hormonal stimulation, ovules are brought to maturity, and then extracted from the ovaries. They are brought to a temperature of -196ºC so that they freeze so fast that the cell is not damaged, thereby preserving practically its full fertilisation potential. For the vitrified ovules, time does not pass; they can maintain their fertility for years after vitrification.
The treatments used for the preservation of fertility are very short, similar to those of in vitro fertilisation, and do not cause the appearance of tumours. In some cases, when it is not possible to mature the oocytes due to the presence of an advanced tumour very sensitive to hormones, alternative techniques may be selected, such as freezing of the ovarian cortex.
Not at all. In each menstrual cycle there are a number of oocytes ready to mature, but only one is obtained and brought to ovulation, while the others are lost. With follicular stimulation, these ovules continue their development and mature to allow their subsequent use.
The ovule is the most important cell in the process of pregnancy, and it is very sensitive to age and to some medications. Men maintain their fertility for many years longer than women, but sperm cells can also be frozen, especially if the patient has to undergo a treatment which may be toxic for the reproductive cells.
If you wish to be a mother but believe that it is not yet the time, it is highly recommended to periodically undergo a fertility study. It is very simple, consisting only of carrying out an ultrasound to evaluate your ovarian reserve, and a blood analysis. If it is observed that your fertility is starting to diminish, Preservation would be the appropriate action.
We are aware that takin this step involves a series reflection and a brave, crucial decision. We will not only accompany and support you, but will also help you search for associations, support groups, portals, etc. which may help you as a single mother.
You choose the transfer date, and we will organize your trip and the treatment cycle, adapting everything to your personal needs.
We have many years of experience with patients from abroad and in particular from Italy, so we know just what you need to make you feel at home. With our help, you can undergo the treatment in two simple steps:
1º Make a first visit to FIV Valencia, during which you can also vitrify a sperm sample. That way you can come the second time just for the IVF transfer!
2º Choose the day that best suits your needs to make the transfer! We will take care of the rest.
Over 90% of our patients become pregnant. Pregnancy rate over 50% per attempt.
The most advanced technologies
20 years of experience and successes
C/ Santa Rosa, 12; 46021
VALENCIA (España)
